best european cities to visit conde nast

The prettiest cities in Europe

By Teddy Wolstenholme and Olivia Morelli

With more than 800 to pick from, whittling down Europe 's most eye-catching cities is no easy task. Beauty may well be in the eyes of the beholder, but these 10 European cities all stand out for their picturesque architecture, history-stitched streets and ridiculously photogenic settings. From the old classics to a few more off-radar treasures, here are our pick of the prettiest cities in Europe worth adding to your future travels list.

Barcelona, Spain

This city is one of our favourite European cities with a beach , but Barcelona is so much more than its sandy shores and picturesque waterfront restaurants. Stroll through the city streets to stumble upon Gaudi gems from the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló to La Pedrer before taking a peek at some lesser-known architectural wonders, such as the unique Modernista Palace of Catalan Music, the world’s largest Art Nouveau site, Sant Pau Recinto Modernista, or the Moorish details of the CaixaForum Barcelona art gallery. Find hidden bars down discreet alleyways – Paradiso, a speakeasy bar with breathtaking cocktails, was recently voted the best bar in the world – or reach for the skies at one of Barcelona’s beautiful rooftop bars.

Where to stay in Barcelona: One of our favourite Hoxton outposts, the Pobelnou hotel is the definition of quietly cool.

Athens, Greece

It’s no surprise that Greece’s ancient capital made the cut. Athens is the perfect blend of crumbling ruins and modern surprises; from picturesque neighbourhoods and Cycladic architecture to ancient citadels and classy bars. There are the obvious places to tick off your prettiest places bucket list (the Parthenon, the Acropolis and the Roman Agora, for example), but head into the lesser-known neighbourhoods to discover the city’s most beautiful spots. Anafiotika is a scenic village with whitewashed houses and cutesy streets, Plaka is an area with tiny shops and locally run galleries and Monastiraki has amazing flea markets with intricately woven carpets and handmade jewellery.

Where to stay in Athens: The Margi is set back from the sandy shores of Athens’ southern suburbs on the Riviera – an easy-going, family-run option.

Edinburgh, UK

The Scottish capital is a city we will never tire of. Edinburgh is a city of hills, so while clambering up sheer cliffs and staggering around steep streets may feel like an effort, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most epic skyline views you can imagine – think pink cloudy sunsets punctured with iconic monuments and sculptures from the Scott Monument on Princes Street to the gothic New College Library on top of The Mound. Down below, winding cobblestone streets lead to historic churches and generations-old pubs where you can hole up with a pint and a pie, or head to Stockbridge to browse local trinket shops and stroll along the Water of Leith trail.

Where to stay in Edinburgh: Gleneagles Townhouse is Scotland’s most exciting newcomer of late, a younger sister to the original Gleneagles – this one has a spectacular restaurant, delightful rooms and a terrific rooftop bar.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has a chequered history. Neolithic artefacts found on archaeological digs suggest the Gateway to Asia has been occupied for more than 2,500 years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans have all left their stamp on the world’s only bicontinental city, leaving fascinating imprints still visible today. Sultanahmet is where many of the city’s famous attractions are, from the church-turned-mosque Hagia Sophia to the spectacular Blue Mosque; visit at night to see the religious site illuminated in cyan light. On the Bosphorus Strait, day boats, passenger ferries and cargo ships chug through the murky waters past some of Turkey ’s most opulent hotels, sprawling parks, and myriad minarets – the call to prayer echoing out into the heavens. To see the city in all its glory, go up. Galata Tower is one of the best places to see Constantinople from above, with restored religious monuments and modern city blocks reflecting the sun’s rays side-by-side.

Where to stay in Istanbul: The Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet is now one of Istanbul ’s grandest hotels – but the building has a fascinating history. Built in the early 20th century, it was the first jailhouse in the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Cells are now luxurious rooms, and the restaurants are dining destinations in themselves; head to Süreyya Teras Lounge for cocktails against a backdrop of the Hagia Sophia as its dome glistens at golden hour.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon's been having a moment for some years now. And it’s easy to see why so many fall for this colourful Portuguese city , packed with beautiful old buildings painted in warm ochre and blushing pink, grand façades lined with glossy azulejos and elegant rococo squares draped in blousy bougainvillaea. This is Europe’s second oldest capital (after Athens) and history resonates everywhere – from the tapestry of cobbled streets to the ramparts of São Jorge Castle, the most distinct feature on the city skyline. By far the most fun way to explore is by hopping on a canary-yellow tram; if you ride just one, make in number 28, which trundles through some of Lisbon’s most beguiling ancient barrios. You’re never short of views here either – best sucked in at sunset from one of the many lookout points, when that famous Lisbon light bounces off terracotta rooftops before sinking behind the seven hills cradling the city.

Where to stay in Lisbon: For grandeur and glamour, The Lumiares is the place to book. Think panoramic city views and Portuguese elegance encased in a 17th-century palace.

Granada, Spain

Set along the dramatic foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada refuses to be overshadowed by its bigger-hitting Spanishneighbours. Awash with Andalucian charm, it’s been shaped by centuries of Moorish rule, leaving behind both an extraordinary cultural legacy and one of Europe’s most seductive monuments. Of course, it’s the mighty Alhambra palace that epitomises its beauty; an exotic hilltop tangle of citadels, colonnaded courtyards, jasmine-scented gardens and tinkling fountains. But don’t overlook the rest of this captivating city, filled with half-forgotten churches, galleried cloisters and the striking old Arab quarter, where traces of ancient bathhouses, former city gates and vine-draped whitewashed buildings with Moorish detailing hark back to its very chequered past.

Where to stay in Granada: A faux-Moorish palace with fabulous views – the Alhambra Palace is a stellar option when exploring the pretty city of Granada.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

With its shiny limestone streets and hotch-potch of medieval, renaissance and grand baroque architecture, lost-in-time Dubrovnik – one of Europe's best-preserved walled cities – has a cinematic beauty to it. From the ramparts of the UNESCO -protected, terracotta-hued Old Town, views peek down to pine-studded pebbly beaches (a honeypot for sun-seeking locals) and boats bobbing in the harbour – making this the perfect city break with a slice of sea too. It’s easy enough to check off the main sites in a weekend, so linger for a few more days to island hop around the sleepy nearby Elafiti Islands or explore Lokrum, a pretty islet and nature reserve within kayaking distance of the shore. Both spots are mercifully removed from the madding cruise ships crowds – which, in high summer, can sometimes become a bit of a blot on the Old Town’s beauty.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik: Villa Dubrovnik is set directly into a cliff, where all rooms have balconies and fabulous views – plus there is a private beach at the bottom of the cliff.

Bergen, Norway

Norway isn’t short of beautiful scenery, but Bergen, ringed by snow-capped peaks, glassy fjords and wild islets, parcels up a little bit of everything that makes the country so beguiling. Despite being Norway’s second largest city, it has a toy-town charm, crammed with colourful gabled houses stretching out along the historic wharf, steep, narrow streets and white-painted wooden buildings hugging the misty hillside. For the best views, ride the funicular up to the top of Fløyen, one of the city’s seven mountains – it’s the jumping-off point for hikes through pretty pine forest and around icy lakes. Getting rained on is a given (Bergen has been crowned one of Europe’s wettest cities), but there’s a wealth of art galleries, museums and a world-famous fish market to duck into if you ever need to run for cover.

Where to stay in Bergen: This 19th-century building used to be Bergen’s stock exchange, and now Bergen Børs Hotel is a stylish hotel perfect for exploring the city.

Tallinn, Estonia

It’s hard to ignore the high-rises gobbling up the distant horizon as you fly into Tallinn – yet this under-the-radar Baltic gem is the absolute antithesis of the grey former Soviet city you might expect. The real jewel of the pocket-sized Estonian capital is the absurdly photogenic Old City, where pastel-pink houses wrap around the main square, grand gothic spires and crenellated castle turrets stud the romantic skyline and hidden alleyways open up onto medieval courtyards with extraordinary, still-intact Hanseatic merchants’ houses. Up on Toompea hill – the focal point – the Disney-esque castle provides a striking contrast to the black gilded domes of the Russian-Orthodox cathedral. If you can, visit in winter, when a thick layer of snow crunches underfoot and the city takes on a whole new atmosphere.

Where to stay in Tallinn : The cosy Schlössle Hotel is tucked away in Tallinn’s Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town, complete with rustic wooden beams and blazing fires.

History-rich Bath is undoubtedly one of the UK's most beautiful cities. This quietly charming Somerset town shot to fame in Roman times for its mineral-rich thermal waters, later becoming a stomping ground for well-to-do Georgians who flaunted their wealth by building the elegant streets and curvaceous crescents from buttery Bath stone. Today, it’s a picturesque bubble of cosy tearooms, artisan markets and independent boutiques, anchored around the magnificent seventh-century Abbey and gorgeous Pulteney Bridge, Bath’s answer to Venice's Rialto or Florence's Ponte Vecchio. If you’re seeking fresh country air, Royal Victoria Park is an oasis of botanical gardens, wild meadows and gurgling streams, while the pretty Cotswolds gently but gloriously unfurl along the fringes of the city.

Where to stay in Bath: Explore the city, then retreat just outside the hustle and bustle where The Pig Near Bath offers pretty bedrooms, a spa, and a wildflower orchard, all wrapped up in a former family country house.

Bruges, Belgium

Brimming with olde-worlde hotels, quirky bars, shops peddling chocolate and lace and art galleries lined with Old Masters, the beautifully preserved historic centre of Bruges is the real star of this canal-laced city best admired from a boat. Time seems to stand still as you float past medieval façades and romantic stone bridges, soaking up the extraordinary gothic architecture and gingerbread-like houses jutting out over the water. It’s a delightful place to wander on foot too, nosing around ancient churches, navigating maze-like cobbled streets and attempting the 366 steps to the top of the belfry – the city centrepiece and prime spot to take in the incredible views. For a change of scenery, hop on a bicycle and head out of town towards Damme, a lovely medieval canalside village and perfect place to while away a go-slow afternoon.

Where to stay in Bruges: Book a room at The Pand for a masterclass in the art of cosy, charming European hotels.

Paris, France

No list would be complete without Paris , the poster child for beautiful European hubs. There’s a reason why such fuss is made of the city of love and lights, an intoxicating mix of grand boulevards and secret cobbled passageways; arresting architecture and peerlessly elegant gardens; world-class museums and gilded history – and of course, a clutch of the most instantly recognisable monuments in the world. There’s too much to tick off in one visit, yet one of the joys of the city is its patchwork of arrondissements, each neighbourhood its own little pocket of charm, character and beauty, from artsy Saint-Germain to hipster Belleville and deliciously bohemian Montmartre. Getting lost in Paris is part of the fun – as is stopping to soak it all in from a wicker-chair-lined pavement cafe, one of this place’s greatest institutions bar none.

Where to stay in Paris: A stay at Cheval Blanc Paris is a guaranteed win, with works by global artists dotted around inside and 72 sleek rooms to choose from.

Venice, Italy

There’s no other city quite like Venice. Little changed over the centuries, it’s a whirlwind of history, architecture, culture and art. There are plenty of big-ticket sites to soak up: the Grand Canal, surely the world’s greatest thoroughfare; glimmering St Mark’s Basilica; the Gallerie dell'Accademia with all its visual drama. But by far the best way to get under the skin of the place is by wandering from piazza to palazzo , criss-crossing over pretty bridges lined with candy-striped gondola moorings, ducking down alleys, peeking into backstreet churches and stumbling upon hidden cicchetti bars. At times, Venice risks being mired by its own beauty, so when the crowds get too much, flit over to one of the islands on the quieter side of the lagoon, such as Burano, a colourful kaleidoscope of quaint fishermen’s houses and a more authentic side of the city.

Where to stay in Venice: Cipriani, A Belmond hotel , is home to tennis courts, a kitchen garden, a vineyard, and a spa within the orange blossom-scented Casanova gardens – all within walking distance of Venice’s most spectacular spots.

Valletta, Malta

Resplendent with its twisty-turny ancient streets, worn ornate façades on butterscotch buildings and original 16th-century bastion walls, the tiny sepia-tinged, sun-drenched Maltese capital is one of Europe’s most underrated delights, sitting plum at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. But it’s not all antiquated. Since being crowned a European Capital of Culture in 2018, Valletta’s been buffed and preened to perfection, paving the way for a crop of new restaurants and funky boutique hotels delicately shoehorned into handsome medieval buildings anchored around the sparkling Grand Harbour. Best of all, it’s just a hop, skip and jump from the rest of this minuscule island’s treasures, so after a full-on morning of sightseeing, it’s an easy retreat to the blue lagoons and golden beaches for the afternoon.

Where to stay in Valetta: 66 Saint Paul’s has a dinky rooftop pool and wonderful views over the city.

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05th Jan 2020

These are the ’20 most beautiful cities in Europe’ according to Conde Nast Traveler

Sarah Finnan

Providing us with endless travel inspiration.

The guys at Conde Nast Traveler have released a list of what they consider to be the ’20 most beautiful cities in Europe’.

And we want to visit all of them.

Admitting that “it’s the cities that keep us coming back to the continent again and again”, the list includes destinations in Slovenia, Greece, Belgium, Denmark and Italy to mention but a few.

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Classed as ‘European hubs’ and boasting a population of over 100,000 people, each city has enough food, culture and architecture to satisfy any type of trip and any type of traveller.

Prague tops the list – unsurprising seeing as it is consistently voted one of the best cities in the world. Commended for its “striking architecture, hilltop views and charming markets “, visitors are encouraged to head to the Old Town in the early morning to enjoy the sights before the city awakens.

Porto is a close second, ranking for its buildings adorned with colourful tiles and the ornate Lello bookshop (with ties to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series).

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Bern in Switzerland, Athens in Greece and Florence in Italy featured next to complete the top five.

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The full list is as follows:

1. Prague, Czech Republic 2. Porto, Portugal 3. Bern, Switzerland 4. Athens, Greece 5. Florence, Italy 6. Bruges, Belgium 7. Budapest, Hungary 8. Edinburgh, Scotland 9. Innsbruck, Austria 10. Bergen, Norway 11. Paris, France 12. Istanbul, Turkey 13. Copenhagen, Denmark 14. York, England 15. Vienna, Austria 16. Ljubljana, Slovenia 17. Seville, Spain 18. Tallinn, Estonia 19. St. Petersburg, Russia 20. Nuremberg, Germany

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If you weren’t itching to go away before, I bet you are now.

READ NEXT:  Nine places to get a ‘hug in a mug’ hot chocolate in Galway

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The prettiest cities to visit in Europe

By Teddy Wolstenholme and Olivia Morelli

With more than 800 to pick from, whittling down Europe 's most eye-catching cities is no easy task. Beauty may well be in the eyes of the beholder, but these 14 European cities all stand out for their picturesque architecture, history-stitched streets and ridiculously photogenic settings. From the old classics to a few more off-radar treasures, here are our pick of the prettiest cities in Europe worth adding to your future travels list.

Barcelona, Spain

This city is one of our favourite European cities with a beach , but Barcelona is so much more than its sandy shores and picturesque waterfront restaurants. Stroll through the city streets to stumble upon Gaudi gems from the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló to La Pedrer before taking a peek at some lesser-known architectural wonders, such as the unique Modernista Palace of Catalan Music, the world’s largest Art Nouveau site, Sant Pau Recinto Modernista, or the Moorish details of the CaixaForum Barcelona art gallery. Find hidden bars down discreet alleyways – Paradiso, a speakeasy bar with breathtaking cocktails, was recently voted the best bar in the world – or reach for the skies at one of Barcelona’s beautiful rooftop bars .

Where to stay in Barcelona: One of our favourite Hoxton (book here) outposts, the Pobelnou hotel is the definition of quietly cool.

Athens, Greece

It’s no surprise that Greece ’s ancient capital made the cut. Athens is the perfect blend of crumbling ruins and modern surprises; from picturesque neighbourhoods and Cycladic architecture to ancient citadels and classy bars. There are the obvious places to tick off your prettiest places bucket list (the Parthenon, the Acropolis and the Roman Agora, for example), but head into the lesser-known neighbourhoods to discover the city’s most beautiful spots. Anafiotika is a scenic village with whitewashed houses and cutesy streets, Plaka is an area with tiny shops and locally run galleries and Monastiraki has amazing flea markets with intricately woven carpets and handmade jewellery.

Where to stay in Athens: The Margi (book here) is set back from the sandy shores of Athens’ southern suburbs on the Riviera – an easy-going, family-run option.

Edinburgh, UK

The Scottish capital is a city we will never tire of. Edinburgh is a city of hills, so while clambering up sheer cliffs and staggering around steep streets may feel like an effort, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most epic skyline views you can imagine – think pink cloudy sunsets punctured with iconic monuments and sculptures from the Scott Monument on Princes Street to the gothic New College Library on top of The Mound. Down below, winding cobblestone streets lead to historic churches and generations-old pubs where you can hole up with a pint and a pie, or head to Stockbridge to browse local trinket shops and stroll along the Water of Leith trail.

Where to stay in Edinburgh: Gleneagles Townhouse (book here) is Scotland’s most exciting newcomer of late, a younger sister to the original Gleneagles – this one has a spectacular restaurant, delightful rooms and a terrific rooftop bar.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has a chequered history. Neolithic artefacts found on archaeological digs suggest the Gateway to Asia has been occupied for more than 2,500 years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans have all left their stamp on the world’s only bicontinental city, leaving fascinating imprints still visible today. Sultanahmet is where many of the city’s famous attractions are, from the church-turned-mosque Hagia Sophia to the spectacular Blue Mosque; visit at night to see the religious site illuminated in cyan light. On the Bosphorus Strait, day boats, passenger ferries and cargo ships chug through the murky waters past some of Turkey ’s most opulent hotels, sprawling parks, and myriad minarets – the call to prayer echoing out into the heavens. To see the city in all its glory, go up. Galata Tower is one of the best places to see Constantinople from above, with restored religious monuments and modern city blocks reflecting the sun’s rays side-by-side.

Where to stay in Istanbul: The Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet (book here) is now one of Istanbul ’s grandest hotels – but the building has a fascinating history. Built in the early 20th century, it was the first jailhouse in the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Cells are now luxurious rooms, and the restaurants are dining destinations in themselves; head to Süreyya Teras Lounge for cocktails against a backdrop of the Hagia Sophia as its dome glistens at golden hour.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon 's been having a moment for some years now. And it’s easy to see why so many fall for this colourful Portuguese city, packed with beautiful old buildings painted in warm ochre and blushing pink , grand façades lined with glossy azulejos and elegant rococo squares draped in blousy bougainvillaea. This is Europe’s second oldest capital (after Athens ) and history resonates everywhere – from the tapestry of cobbled streets to the ramparts of São Jorge Castle, the most distinct feature on the city skyline. By far the most fun way to explore is by hopping on a canary-yellow tram; if you ride just one, make in number 28, which trundles through some of Lisbon’s most beguiling ancient barrios. You’re never short of views here either – best sucked in at sunset from one of the many lookout points, when that famous Lisbon light bounces off terracotta rooftops before sinking behind the seven hills cradling the city.

Where to stay in Lisbon: For grandeur and glamour, The Lumiares (book here) is the place to book. Think panoramic city views and Portuguese elegance encased in a 17th-century palace.

Granada, Spain

Set along the dramatic foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada refuses to be overshadowed by its bigger-hitting Spanish neighbours. Awash with Andalucian charm, it’s been shaped by centuries of Moorish rule, leaving behind both an extraordinary cultural legacy and one of Europe’s most seductive monuments. Of course, it’s the mighty Alhambra palace that epitomises its beauty; an exotic hilltop tangle of citadels, colonnaded courtyards, jasmine-scented gardens and tinkling fountains. But don’t overlook the rest of this captivating city, filled with half-forgotten churches, galleried cloisters and the striking old Arab quarter, where traces of ancient bathhouses, former city gates and vine-draped whitewashed buildings with Moorish detailing hark back to its very chequered past.

Where to stay in Granada: A faux-Moorish palace with fabulous views – the Alhambra Palace (book here) is a stellar option when exploring the pretty city of Granada.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

With its shiny limestone streets and hotch-potch of medieval, renaissance and grand baroque architecture, lost-in-time Dubrovnik – one of Europe's best-preserved walled cities – has a cinematic beauty to it. From the ramparts of the UNESCO -protected, terracotta-hued Old Town, views peek down to pine-studded pebbly beaches (a honeypot for sun-seeking locals) and boats bobbing in the harbour – making this the perfect city break with a slice of sea too. It’s easy enough to check off the main sites in a weekend, so linger for a few more days to island hop around the sleepy nearby Elafiti Islands or explore Lokrum, a pretty islet and nature reserve within kayaking distance of the shore. Both spots are mercifully removed from the madding cruise ships crowds – which, in high summer, can sometimes become a bit of a blot on the Old Town’s beauty.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik: Villa Dubrovnik (book here) is set directly into a cliff, where all rooms have balconies and fabulous views – plus there is a private beach at the bottom of the cliff.

Bergen, Norway

Norway isn’t short of beautiful scenery, but Bergen, ringed by snow-capped peaks, glassy fjords and wild islets, parcels up a little bit of everything that makes the country so beguiling. Despite being Norway’s second largest city, it has a toy-town charm, crammed with colourful gabled houses stretching out along the historic wharf, steep, narrow streets and white-painted wooden buildings hugging the misty hillside. For the best views, ride the funicular up to the top of Fløyen, one of the city’s seven mountains – it’s the jumping-off point for hikes through pretty pine forest and around icy lakes. Getting rained on is a given (Bergen has been crowned one of Europe’s wettest cities), but there’s a wealth of art galleries, museums and a world-famous fish market to duck into if you ever need to run for cover.

Where to stay in Bergen: This 19th-century building used to be Bergen’s stock exchange, and now Bergen Børs Hotel (book here) is a stylish hotel perfect for exploring the city.

Jahnavi Bhatt

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Jemima Sissons

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Tallinn, Estonia

It’s hard to ignore the high-rises gobbling up the distant horizon as you fly into Tallinn – yet this under-the-radar Baltic gem is the absolute antithesis of the grey former Soviet city you might expect. The real jewel of the pocket-sized Estonian capital is the absurdly photogenic Old City, where pastel-pink houses wrap around the main square, grand gothic spires and crenellated castle turrets stud the romantic skyline and hidden alleyways open up onto medieval courtyards with extraordinary, still-intact Hanseatic merchants’ houses. Up on Toompea hill – the focal point – the Disney-esque castle provides a striking contrast to the black gilded domes of the Russian-Orthodox cathedral. If you can, visit in winter, when a thick layer of snow crunches underfoot and the city takes on a whole new atmosphere.

Where to stay in Tallinn : The cosy Schlössle Hotel (book here) is tucked away in Tallinn’s Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town, complete with rustic wooden beams and blazing fires.

History-rich Bath sits right at the top of our list of the most beautiful cities on home turf. This quietly charming Somerset town shot to fame in Roman times for its mineral-rich thermal waters, later becoming a stomping ground for well-to-do Georgians who flaunted their wealth by building the elegant streets and curvaceous crescents from buttery Bath stone. Today, it’s a picturesque bubble of cosy tearooms, artisan markets and independent boutiques, anchored around the magnificent seventh-century Abbey and gorgeous Pulteney Bridge, Bath’s answer to Venice 's Rialto or Florence 's Ponte Vecchio. If you’re seeking fresh country air, Royal Victoria Park is an oasis of botanical gardens, wild meadows and gurgling streams, while the pretty Cotswolds gently but gloriously unfurl along the fringes of the city.

Where to stay in Bath: Explore the city, then retreat just outside the hustle and bustle where The Pig Near Bath (book here) offers pretty bedrooms, a spa, and a wildflower orchard, all wrapped up in a former family country house.

Bruges, Belgium

Brimming with olde-worlde hotels, quirky bars, shops peddling chocolate and lace and art galleries lined with Old Masters, the beautifully preserved historic centre of Bruges is the real star of this canal-laced city best admired from a boat. Time seems to stand still as you float past medieval façades and romantic stone bridges, soaking up the extraordinary gothic architecture and gingerbread-like houses jutting out over the water. It’s a delightful place to wander on foot too, nosing around ancient churches, navigating maze-like cobbled streets and attempting the 366 steps to the top of the belfry – the city centrepiece and prime spot to take in the incredible views. For a change of scenery, hop on a bicycle and head out of town towards Damme, a lovely medieval canalside village and perfect place to while away a go-slow afternoon.

Where to stay in Bruges: Book a room at The Pand (book here) for a masterclass in the art of cosy, charming European hotels.

Paris, France

No list would be complete without Paris , the poster child for beautiful European hubs. There’s a reason why such fuss is made of the city of love and lights, an intoxicating mix of grand boulevards and secret cobbled passageways; arresting architecture and peerlessly elegant gardens; world-class museums and gilded history – and of course, a clutch of the most instantly recognisable monuments in the world. There’s too much to tick off in one visit, yet one of the joys of the city is its patchwork of arrondissements, each neighbourhood its own little pocket of charm, character and beauty, from artsy Saint-Germain to hipster Belleville and deliciously bohemian Montmartre. Getting lost in Paris is part of the fun – as is stopping to soak it all in from a wicker-chair-lined pavement café , one of this place’s greatest institutions bar none.

Where to stay in Paris: A stay at Cheval Blanc Paris (book here) is a guaranteed win, with works by global artists dotted around inside and 72 sleek rooms to choose from.

Venice, Italy

There’s no other city quite like Venice . Little changed over the centuries, it’s a whirlwind of history, architecture, culture and art. There are plenty of big-ticket sites to soak up: the Grand Canal, surely the world’s greatest thoroughfare; glimmering St Mark’s Basilica; the Gallerie dell'Accademia with all its visual drama. But by far the best way to get under the skin of the place is by wandering from piazza to palazzo , criss-crossing over pretty bridges lined with candy-striped gondola moorings, ducking down alleys, peeking into backstreet churches and stumbling upon hidden cicchetti bars. At times, Venice risks being mired by its own beauty, so when the crowds get too much, flit over to one of the islands on the quieter side of the lagoon, such as Burano, a colourful kaleidoscope of quaint fishermen’s houses and a more authentic side of the city.

Where to stay in Venice: Cipriani, A Belmond hotel (book here) , is home to tennis courts, a kitchen garden, a vineyard, and a spa within the orange blossom-scented Casanova gardens – all within walking distance of Venice’s most spectacular spots.

Valletta, Malta

Resplendent with its twisty-turny ancient streets, worn ornate façades on butterscotch buildings and original 16th-century bastion walls, the tiny sepia-tinged, sun-drenched Maltese capital is one of Europe’s most underrated delights, sitting plum at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. But it’s not all antiquated. Since being crowned a European Capital of Culture in 2018, Valletta ’s been buffed and preened to perfection, paving the way for a crop of new restaurants and funky boutique hotels delicately shoehorned into handsome medieval buildings anchored around the sparkling Grand Harbour. Best of all, it’s just a hop, skip and jump from the rest of this minuscule island’s treasures, so after a full-on morning of sightseeing, it’s an easy retreat to the blue lagoons and golden beaches for the afternoon.

Where to stay in Valetta: 66 Saint Paul’s (book here) has a dinky rooftop pool and wonderful views over the city.

First published on CNT UK

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Korea’s Smells and Stories Come Into Focus at This Year’s Venice Biennale

By Lisa Wong Macabasco

Which scents capture a nation’s past? Artist Koo Jeong A sought to answer that question in the Korean Pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale.

The result was “Odorama Cities,” a scent portrait of the Korean peninsula distilled from some 600 olfactory memories of Koreans and those with any connection to it, including residents, visitors, adoptees, and expats like Koo themself (who has lived in Europe since 1991). That pool of recollections, submitted through a public open call last summer, was then categorized by Koo into 17 distinct smell concepts that 14 perfumers from France, China, Singapore, Japan, Ireland, and South Korea translated into actual scents.

Some of the fragrances are nature inspired, capturing peninsula’s salty sea air, for example, as well as the familiar fog, red pine trees (Korea’s national tree), and spring-blooming magnolias and azaleas. Other pavilion aromas are based on food, befitting a country whose cuisine has in recent years come to be celebrated around the world: One conjures jang-dok-dae, the traditional earthen jars used for fermenting kimchi, with elements of soybean paste and chili paste, while another re-creates the mouthwatering smell of cooked rice with sesame oil and soy sauce, a Korean standard.

The most intriguing smells are grounded in modern Korean life. The Scent of Seoul, for example, incorporates the damp, earthy odor of mold and mildew (inspired by the metropolis’s humid months), while labdanum resinoid points toward sweat and back alleys. Old Electronics—composed of black pepper, steel accord, and frankincense—is like cracking open a broken radio, summoning well-worn plastic, metal, burnt rubber, and dust. And Grandparents’ House, surely a potent smell memory the world over, is evoked by notes of musty wood and old fabric.

All these aromas and more mingle freely courtesy of egg-like diffusers hidden around the Korean Pavilion, a modest two-room steel-and-glass structure overlooking the Venetian Lagoon that this year is adorned with only a low, wooden Möbius ring that serves as a bench. As one moves through the wide-open wood-floor space, it’s nearly impossible to discern any specific fragrance.

A set of 17 different scent concepts mingles freely around the sparsely adorned Korean Pavilion.

By Lorena Meouchi

By Elise Taylor

That’s by design, Koo tells me inside the pavilion, their tiny frame perched on the ring. “It’s about going beyond boundaries and talking about a country in an inclusive and expanded way,” they say in a voice scarcely above a whisper. “Typically all the national pavilions here are very divided. With this, I hope to push beyond nations and borders toward a common future. I even hope for a transnational pavilion at the Biennale someday—I would happily present a project for that.”

Site-specific installations that engage the senses and interrogate perception and ephemerality are some of the artist’s signatures. “Koo’s practice is making the invisible visible,” says Seolhui Lee, who curated the pavilion with fellow Denmark-based curator Jacob Fabricius. That often involves combining architectural elements with texts, drawings, paintings, sculptures, films, and installations as well as invisible elements like temperature and sound.

And of course scent. The Seoul-born artist (and recent Loewe campaign model ) has worked with odors and memory since the early days of their three-decade career. In 1996’s Pullover’s Wardrobe, they strategically placed mothballs in their Paris studio, referencing the smell of their grandmother’s closet, as an exploration of memory. In 2011’s Before the Rain , a fragrance meant to capture the humid air of an Asian city before rain filled an empty New York gallery. And at London’s Charing Cross Station in 2016, Odorama gestured at the former noisy bustle of an unused platform with scent, light, and shadows.

After all, smell has stronger ties to memories and emotions than any other sense. “From the moment of birth, scents establish a connection to our parents, later attracting us to people and places and sparking our curiosity,” the curators note in the exhibition catalog. “Despite being undervalued, scents play a crucial role as they provide comfort and evoke subconscious sentiments.”

The Korean Pavilion’s spare serenity puts the focus squarely on the sense of smell.

Diffusers hidden around the pavilion emit the various scent concepts.

In Venice, the pavilion’s spare serenity puts the focus squarely on the sense of smell—which comes as something of a salve after a stretch of pavilions teeming with overstimulating works jostling for audiovisual attention.

And salves happen to be the stock-in-trade of up-and-coming lifestyle beauty brand Nonfiction , which spearheaded the creation of all the pavilion scents. The Seoul-based company launched in 2019 with scent-led body care, and it’s now regarded as part of K-beauty’s new wave , with three warmly minimalist stores in the Korean capital. It has many more stockists there, in Tokyo and Hong Kong, and a small but growing collection of retailers in Europe and the US.

Nonfiction was well matched to partner with the pavilion on this project since the brand “strives to infuse emotion and inspiration into daily life through unique narratives and scent,” according to founder Haeyoung Cha. “Koo is renowned for majestically exploring the poetics of everyday life, and ‘Odorama Cities’ serves an inspired chronicle of the peninsula’s history and a reminder of Korea’s extensive scent stories.”

The pavilion’s smaller adjacent room houses just a single glow-in-the-dark plinth bearing a bronze sculpture, a playful, peace-sign-wielding figure captured mid hop. (Levitating is a theme in Koo’s work; see the glow-in-the-dark skate parks they’ve constructed in cities around the world for the past 12 years.) Every two minutes the figure—which, like the Möbius ring, represents infinity, another preoccupation of Koo’s—emits from its nostrils steam with yet another scent.

That’s the eau de parfum Odorama Cities, created by legendary perfumer Dominique Ropion , the mastermind behind some of the world’s most iconic fragrances. Each of Odorama Cities’ main notes—​sandalwood, mugwort, incense, and tuberose—reflects scent memories from the decades that immediately followed the Korean War, as the country moved from agrarian to industrialized and eventually highly urbanized. Sandalwood, for example, comes from Korea’s sea, forests, and mountains, mentioned in many memories from the 1960s; incense, with accords of ambergris, aldehyde, and asphalt, evokes the subway’s cold air and engines humming in the night air, correlating with the most recent remembrances, since 2010.

Nonfiction’s new eau de parfum Odorama Cities

Master perfumer Dominique Ropion

Ropion, surprisingly, has never visited Korea. “I would love to go, of course,” the debonair French nose tells me on the Gritti Palace terrace, soaking in the surrounding aromas of the pungent Grand Canal, the over-perfumed art-world elite, and our cooling espressos.

He knew little of the country and its history prior to this project, although he’s a fan of the darkness and cynicism of Korean cinema and raves about the film Parasite . “And I know Koreans love perfumes,” Ropion adds. Indeed, Korea’s fragrance market has exploded in the past six years, especially among younger generations. (In the catalog, critic Young June Lee contributes a fascinating essay about how Korea’s previous smells—from industry, bathrooms, hospitals, and cars—have been regulated out of existence over the past three decades.)

Sight unseen, then, Ropion was supplied with photos of the country and a bouquet of its common smells: wood, incense, rice, spices, bath aromatics, scents from its volcanoes , and flowers, like magnolias. “From this,” he says, “I had to imagine a country.” In his four-decade career, he’d never had such a brief before: “It’s the first time I’ve traveled to a country solely through scent.”

Ropion also collaborated on the pavilion scent concepts, placing him further in unfamiliar territory. “As a perfumer, you’re supposed to make something that smells nice that one can wear,” he says, smiling. With the scent Fish Market, however, concocted from a seaweed absolute along with fish and salt accords, “the brand said, ‘It smells too nice—it needs to be stinkier!’ That never happens.”

Creating a commercial scent distilled from 16 unwearable odors about a country he’d never set foot in was no simple task. But to Ropion the ultimate arbiters of its success will be those whose memories were infused into the perfume (which is now available through Nonfiction’s stores and global online shop ). “When the team in Korea smelled what I had done, they were very moved,” he shares. “For them it means something. And that’s always the goal with perfume—a scent that touches people very deeply.”

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TAG Heuer’s Iconic 80s Formula 1 Watch Is Reborn

It’s time for retro-plastic watch mania again—or, at least, it is if you’re based in one of just seven cities worldwide, or are prepared to move very fast online.

Dropping next week is the reborn TAG Heuer Formula 1, the buoyantly colorful, plastic-cased sports watch that revitalized the Swiss maker in the 1980s, and has become a collector favorite in recent years.

Those original F1s sold in their millions, but this revival is geared specifically to the modern hype-world fetishes of collectability, rarity and collabs. In a partnership with the hipster-approved fashion/lifestyle brand Kith , just under 5,000 watches will be available in total, spread across 10 hard-to-get limited editions. Seven of these will only be available from Kith’s boutiques (five in North America, one in Japan and one in France) and website. The entire collection will be displayed in the two brands’ Miami stores from Thursday, and go on sale on Monday.

This, of course, follows the major frenzy—and certifiable cultural moment—created by Swatch two years ago with its bioplastic MoonSwatch tie-up with Omega (the latest, Snoopy-adorned version of which dropped just last month). Since then, the possibility of TAG Heuer following suit with its own famously colorful plastic favorite has been keenly anticipated.

After all, the Formula 1, which appeared in 1986, was in some ways seen as the brand’s answer (though of a notably higher spec) to the original Swatch, the cheap, plastic, battery-powered timepiece that had revolutionized the market three years earlier.

The original 80s versions of the Kith/TAG Heuer reissues sold in their millions.

The Swatch’s soaraway success helped pave the way for Switzerland’s return as a watchmaking superpower, after a decade-long pummeling by cut-price Japanese watches and economic shocks. Heuer, as it was then known, had been one of the major victims of that crisis: once a family-owned specialist in chronographs associated with the glamorous world of motor sports and Grand Prix racing, it was near bankruptcy when it was sold to Piaget, another Swiss firm, in 1982.

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Carlton Reid

Reece Rogers

Piaget’s ownership was brief and mercurial, but it included the development of a fun, inexpensive and vibrantly post-modern take on the dive watch, noticeably influenced by Swatch’s success. Though it had a metal core, the case exterior and uni-directional rotating bezel (a dive watch trope) were made from a thermoplastic polymer reinforced with fiberglass, known as Arnite, whose durability and fire-retardant qualities made it more commonly used for electrical devices like fuse boxes and circuit breakers. It was to be created in a panoply of color combinations, on basic plastic straps.

In fact, it would be the first watch to bear the brand’s new name, “TAG Heuer”, after the Piaget family sold it to Techniques d’Avant Garde (TAG), a firm with interests in motor sport, aviation and hospitality, founded by Saudi businessman (and reputed arms dealer) Akram Ojjeh.

TAG’s heavy involvement with Formula 1—including co-ownership of McLaren—along with the Ojjeh family’s determination to break into the realm of European luxury brands, made Heuer, with its pit-lane credentials, an attractive prospect; and it followed that its funky new watch, now market-ready, should be audaciously named after the world’s biggest motorsport. Produced until 1990 in its original format, over three million watches were sold.

“It was a major moment for the rebirth of the brand,” says Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer’s heritage director. “The 1990s would be a period of monumental brand building, and the Formula 1, along with dive watches, were the foundations that the house of TAG Heuer would be built on.”

According to TAG Heuer, the return of the plastic Formula 1 has been in the planning since before the MoonSwatch ’s success, though the latter has surely laid some useful groundwork.

The Formula 1’s vintage market, Biebuyck says, has soared in the past couple of years. Of the 37 colorways originally produced, examples in good condition can reach around $700 or $800, though the most desirable—such as the red/yellow/green/blue “ Ukyo Katayama ” made for only one year when the Japanese F1 driver was driving for Larousse in 1992—can reach $2,000.

The new versions, all of them battery-powered with bezels in Arnite thermoplastic and cases either in Arnite or stainless steel, not only replicate the 35 mm case sizing of the 1986 range, but in fact drew on the actual molding used back then, after a project to digitize TAG Heuer’s development records led to the uncovering of the old schematics and supplier records, according to Biebuyck. The original supplier, still in business today, had retained the mold used.

The collaboration with Kith marks the first time TAG Heuer has ever co-branded a watch dial.

Concessions to modernity include sapphire crystal instead of plastic for the dial covering on these new models, and high-grade rubber straps instead of the plastic of old. The range includes five versions with stainless steel cases (two of which have black PVD coatings to match their bezels), and five featuring cases in the original Arnite, in fun colorways designed in partnership with New York-based Kith.

Ronnie Fieg, Kith’s founder and an influential figure in today’s streetwear and sneaker world, is also a passionate collector of vintage TAG Heuer Formula 1s. The all-plastic versions, plus two steel versions with bright blue and green bezels respectively, are exclusive to Kith—find them in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hawaii, Tokyo and Paris, or on its website.

But expect to move fast, because if the MoonSwatch is any precedent, the scalpers will move faster—notwithstanding the fact that at $1,350, the new Formula 1s are five times the price of a MoonSwatch.

But they are rare: there are only 250 examples each of the Kith exclusive all-Arnite models, and 350 of the two steel Kith exclusives. The two models with black-coated steel cases, also with green or blue bezels and straps, are exclusive to TAG Heuer stores (and will not be online), and limited to 825 pieces each.

Finally, the version with a stainless steel case and bracelet, and black bezel, is shared between both brands, and limited to 1,350 pieces. All models feature quartz movements and 200-meter water resistance, just as the originals did. There is also, according to TAG Heuer’s press release, a boxed set featuring all ten watches, though the brand has yet to confirm how and where it is available.

As well as featuring Kith’s “Just Us” slogan on the dial, the watches are also co-branded, with “Kith” replacing “TAG” in the watchmaker’s logo—the first time TAG Heuer has ever co-branded a watch, and reflective of the company’s keenness to speak to the Gen Z consumers that are meat and drink to brands like Kith.

Indeed, modern TAG Heuer, owned by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate, since 1999, has been going through its own series of rebirths in recent years. These have included the development of its high-end Connected smartwatch; the introduction of lab-grown diamonds for high-end models; attempts (ongoing, but as yet unsuccessful) to revolutionize hairspring production with nano-technology; a recent reintroduction of its long-dormant eyewear business ; the introduction, with Citizen’s help, of solar-powered models; and multiple changes in both management, product and pricing strategy.

Just under 5,000 watches will be available in total from this pimped F1 reissue, spread across 10 limited editions. However, unlike the MoonSwatch, some will be available online.

TAG's latest CEO, Julien Tornare, took over in January (from Frederic Arnault, son of LVMH chairman and world’s richest man, Bernard Arnault), against the background of a seven percent slide in sales , according to Morgan Stanley.

However, recent redesigns under Arnault’s leadership of its core Carrera and Aquatimer collections have been well received, leaving the modern-day Formula 1 line, which continues to be the brand’s entry point with battery-powered watches priced between $1,450-$3,800, sorely in need of a similar dusting down.

Whether the return, in limited measure, of the old-school Formula 1 opens the door for a continuing line of plastic-cased watches, in the vein of the MoonSwatch, remains to be seen, but is unlikely; the sustainability commitments of modern luxury brands would seem to mitigate against it, unless TAG Heuer can find a material to work with similar to Swatch’s bioplastic.

However, for a brand that initially dangled its Connected smart watch as a gateway product that could later be exchanged for a mechanical watch (a strategy that was discontinued), the need to build emotional connections with younger buyers remains a continuing priority. Accordingly, it’s expected that the retro Formula 1, playing firmly to 1980s and 1990s style associations that have plenty of currency in today’s fashion world (even if the petrolhead name does not) will lead the way for a wider overhauling of the range.

“It’s the beginning of a story for the reimagining of the Formula 1,” says Biebuyck. “We don’t want to remanufacture old watches into the core collection, we want something that is fully modern and up to date. But this is a chance for everyone to reflect on what the Formula 1 has historically stood for, and return to that sense that the people who created these objects have an understanding of that and want to push it forward.”

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The Best New Hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico: 2024 Hot List

Posted: April 24, 2024 | Last updated: April 24, 2024

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech, or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List's Mexico and Caribbean winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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10 Cities With the Best Public Transportation, From Medellín to Stockholm

By Laura Walsh

From the cable cars of Medellín to London’s double-decker buses, cities with the best public transportation systems make it easy to travel efficiently, affordably, and sustainably—all while offering a unique glimpse into a society's values.

In some cities around the world—as in Stockholm and Moscow —public transportation isn’t just about getting from point A to point B either. Instead, these transitory spaces have been elevated to become attractions in their own right, featuring impressive feats of art, architecture, and design. Most of the cities included on this list have also excelled at providing step-free access, making independent travel accessible for those using wheelchairs or strollers.

These are truly exceptional global systems: well-designed with residents and dignity at their core, but thoughtfully executed to warmly welcome travelers from around the world. Below, see the 10 cities with the best public transportation around the world—ranked in no particular order—based on a variety of factors including accessibility, sustainability, efficiency, dependability, cleanliness, and design.

1. Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s public transit system offers such extensive, affordable, and accessible service that the majority of residents do not own cars.

Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway has an unbelievable on-time rate of 99.9%, with 97 of its 98 stations accessible from the street level. Additionally, each station offers free WiFi, charging stations, and clean public toilets; many now include breastfeeding rooms, too. With rides that cost only about 60 cents, it is impossible to find a cheaper, faster, or more predictable way to get where you want to go.

You can also take in the spectacular sights of the city while riding the double-decker Hong Kong Tramway, or gaze down below from the impressively steep heights of the Peak Tram funicular. For island hopping, take the Star Ferry across the harbor from Hong Kong Island to visit Kowloon while enjoying the jaw-dropping skyline.

How to experience it: Take the 10-minute Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon for $3.70 HKD (US$ 0.50) for an upper deck seat.

The Delhi Metro is a beacon of cleanliness and a model of safety and efficiency. India’s largest mass rapid transit system connects the country’s capital to adjoining satellite cities with a total of 12 color-coded Metro lines and 288 stations (an additional 45 new stations expected by 2026). The Delhi Metro was also the world’s first transit system to receive UN carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and today gets 35% of its power from renewable sources.

Trains run every 2-5 minutes during peak hours (and every 10 minutes during off-peak). With clean bathrooms and elevators at every station, the Delhi Metro is ahead of many in providing a transportation system that affords independent access with dignity for all.

To help prioritize a safe environment, the Delhi Metro introduced women-only carriages in 2010 that are now available on each train.

The trains and stations are all air-conditioned, making Delhi's metro a fast and comfortable way to traverse the vast city that’s often hot and humid. Fares are calculated based on distance and start at just $0.12.

How to experience it: Relax in Delhi on the Yellow Line: explore the Garden of the Five Senses (Saket Station) or Lodhi Gardens (Jor Bagh Station).

The Moscow Metro cruises onto this list thanks to its unwavering commitment to efficiency and its extraordinary stations. During rush hour, the trains of the Moscow Metro run every 90 seconds. But once you step into these breathtaking stations—also known as the “palaces of the people”—you may find yourself slowing down to take it all in. Emulating the grandeur of Russia’s historical palaces, Moscow’s Metro is an attraction in itself and demonstrates that even something as seemingly basic as public transportation is deserving of care and artistry.

The Moscow Metro probably won’t win any awards in the easy-to-understand category, but with almost 300 stations and 17 lines—including two circular lines which eliminate the need to travel to the city center for transfers—it is the fastest, most affordable, and the most inspiring way to get around.

How to experience it: Stations you won’t want to miss: Park Kultury, built with five types of marble and connected to Gorky Park, the stained-glass filled Novoslobodskay, and Mayakovskaya station, named for the famed Soviet artist.

Tokyo’s metro is vast, clean, fast, and reliable. It’s a breeze to figure out where you need to go—even if you don’t know the Japanese alphabet. Thanks to the sensible naming, numbering, and color-coding of the stops, there are numerous ways to locate your destination all while enjoying a comfortable ride (in almost virtual silence).

Convenient to almost every attraction in the city of Tokyo, the metro serves nearly 7 million people every single day and is globally recognized for its rigorous cleaning and maintenance (the trains are deep-cleaned every 15 days). Tickets are available for purchase at every station; adult fares start at 180 Yen (around $1) and increase depending on how far you’re traveling.

Many stations are equipped with elevators and lifts, making the metro accessible for those using wheelchairs or with strollers or luggage.

How to experience it: Check out Shinjuku Station, the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the world’s busiest train station serving over 2.7 million passengers per day on 12 different train lines.

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5. Singapore

Singapore is a city and a nation rolled into one on an island nearly the same size of New York City. As the third-most densely populated country in the world, well-designed transportation that can move millions is essential for this small nation.

Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) currently has 6 lines with 140 stations and is scheduled to double in size by 2040. In a country of just over 5.5 million people, Singapore’s MRT carries an outstanding 3 million every day.

The MRT’s trains are fast and predictable, running every 5 to 7 minutes most of the day and every 2 to 3 minutes during the morning rush. The MRT’s reach is complemented by the LRT, a light rail system with 2 lines and another 40 stops.

With station signage and announcements in Singapore’s four official languages—English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil—the MRT makes it remarkably easy to navigate without a car or a care. They have also installed protected walkways on every quarter-mile leading to every MRT station, making it easier to walk to transit, monsoon or shine.

How to experience it: Don’t miss Singapore’s breathtaking Garden by the Bay located at the MRT station with the same name on the Thomson–East Coast Line.

London’s transit is such an integral part of the city that their red double-deckers are instantly recognizable as national symbols of the UK. Pioneers of the world’s first underground railway, London’s transit system is vast and continues to expand. The “Tube” serves 5 million people every day on 11 lines and 272 stations—nearly half of which operate 24 hours a day.

Beyond the traditional Underground is the newest addition to London's transit system, the Elizabeth line . First launched in 2022, the new energy-efficient railway connects London's outer suburbs to the heart of the city, bringing an additional 1.5 million people within a 45 minute commute of central London. Visitors can travel from Heathrow Airport to central London in 45 minutes onboard Elizabeth line trains that run every half-hour.

Numerous above-ground options allow for simultaneous sightseeing, like the Overground with 6 lines and the iconic double decker buses with 675 routes, the IFS Cloud Cable Car, or the robust bikeshare system tied to an ever-expanding network of “cycleways.”

How to experience it: Stroll through one of London’s 3,000 parks, like Hyde Park, located at the Paddington Station on the Elizabeth line.

Seoul is home to some of the world’s largest, fastest, and most reliable public transit systems. The city goes the extra mile to make sure its public transportation is easily navigable by people from all over the world.

For example, stations have signage in Korean and English and stops are announced in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. To make navigation even easier, each line is color-coded and numbered, and every station has a corresponding number for identification. Many stations also feature restaurants, shopping boutiques, convenience stores, and even surprise concerts.

Buses are also color-coded by distance and destination type, and all bus stops are clearly marked—plus, many offer heated seats. Every metro station is accessible by elevators, climate-controlled, and equipped with clean public restrooms and breastfeeding rooms.

Onboard the trains, every subway car has yellow “priority seats” reserved for the elderly, those with physical disabilities or illnesses, and people with young children. Additionally, every car has pink seats reserved for pregnant women.

How to experience it: Take Seoul’s metro to Anguk Station (Line 3) to the 1000-year-old Changdeokgung Palace , a UNESCO Heritage site with opulent grounds and gardens featuring 56,000 plants.

8. Medellín

Medellín’s metro system is a stellar example of how well-executed transit can be fun, functional, and help uplift an entire city.

The Metro de Medellín opened in 1995 and is the only rail-based transit system in Colombia . In addition to its clean and rapid rail options, the city is also served by a tram, a bus rapid transit line, and hundreds of other bus lines—many of which can be used in conjunction with the Metro.

The real show stopper is the Metrocable, a gondola lift system with a 7-line network that soars over the city and connects numerous neighborhoods.

Though cable cars have typically been used for tourism, Medellín was the first city to include them as part of a mass public transportation system. The cable cars connect downtown Medellín to communities isolated by the steep hills surrounding the mountainous city—in some cases cutting a 2 hour commute to just 30 minutes. Medellín’s Metro was thoughtfully-planned with community input and is a symbol of pride for the city.

How to experience it: Take in the lush hillsides around Medellin while riding Metrocable Line K to Parque Arvi where you can find unbeatable bird-watching, wildflowers, and over 50 miles of hiking trails.

9. Washington, DC

Washington, DC’s transit system is the second busiest in the United States and serves the nation's capital as well as surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland. With extensive rail and bus service, complemented by a bikeshare system, the DC Metro makes it incredibly easy to live in or visit Washington, DC without a car.

Each Metro station is reachable by elevator, ensuring everyone, including those with strollers or wheelchairs, has access to the entire system to travel independently—without having to rely on the kindness of strangers.

DC’s Metro stations also demonstrate a commitment to health and hygiene. Last month, the Metro completed renovations of all 169 of its public restrooms, a massive undertaking that took 14 years.

Trips on the DC Metro start at just $2 within Washington, DC but traveling to/from Virginia or Maryland is distance-based.

How to experience it: The Smithsonian stop on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines is home to numerous free museums like the African American History and Culture Museum and the Air and Space Museum .

10. Stockholm

Last but certainly not least is Stockholm . Sweden's capital city is made of 14 islands connected by a robust public transport network including a metro system with 100 stations, ferries, buses, and trams.

Stockholm’s metro, the Tunnelbana (or T-bana) forms the world’s longest art gallery . Though initially envisioned as a way to reduce traffic, Stockholm’s underground embraces another worthy goal: making art accessible to people of all economic backgrounds. Today, 94 of the T-bana’s 100 stations feature the work of 250 artists, including paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations.

The art at most stations depicts the history and culture of the surrounding neighborhoods, providing a colorful escape from the city’s gray winters. If you have a chance to visit, don’t miss the otherworldly Rådhuset station or Solna Centrum. The red cave-like ceiling mimics a forest sunset—look closer and you’ll find sporadic wall illustrations depicting social commentary from 1970s Sweden. Free guided art tours are available from June to August every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3p.m., starting from the SL Customer Centre at T-Centralen.

As you’d expect, the Stockholm metro is clean, climate-controlled, and sustainable. When you’re done soaking in the stunning stations of Stockholm metro, you can also see the city and attractions by ferry, for the same price as a bus or metro ticket (SEK 42 or about $3.86).

How to experience it: To see Stockholm from the water, hop on the SL ferry line 80 and visit popular tourist attractions such as the Abba museum or wander around nature in Djurgården, a National City Park.

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